Meeting the Parents!

“Mm,” the doctor said, handing Jiang Zhou the test results. “The patient’s neurogenic gastric bleeding was caused by prolonged stress. When he wakes up, his family should pay closer attention to his mental health.”

Jiang Zhou took the test results and stared at the words on the page, his eyes darkening. “All right. Thank you, Doctor.”

Chen Ju woke up with the dream still lingering before his eyes. He couldn’t remember exactly what it had been about; he only remembered seeing his mother. In the dream, he and his mother lived in a little house. He went out to work during the day, then came home at night to eat, chat, and take walks with her. Every day was happy.

But when he opened his eyes, all he saw were white walls and white sheets. The pain in his chest began again, a constant, dull ache that seemed as if it would never stop.

Chen Ju blinked and struggled to sit up in bed. He remembered getting out of Jiang Zhou’s car and preparing to take the bus home when his stomach suddenly started hurting. Jiang Zhou had driven over and said something to him, but after that, he couldn’t remember anything.

Had he fainted? Had Jiang Zhou brought him to the hospital? But hadn’t Jiang Zhou’s date with Miss Liu been delayed because of him?

Just then, the hospital room door opened, and Jiang Zhou walked in. He wore a black coat and carried a wooden lunch box. Chen Ju recognized it as the one that held the nutritional soup he drank every day.

“You’re awake?” Jiang Zhou came over, carrying the chill of the outdoors and the scent of tobacco with him.

Chen Ju was taken aback. He rarely saw Jiang Zhou smoke; in fact, he hadn’t seen him smoke once since they’d met again.

“Drink the soup.” Jiang Zhou opened the lunch box, took out the bowl, and set it on the table. His tone was almost commanding...